Researchers look at impact of breastfeeding on COVID-19

Breast milk has long been accepted as a key way mothers bolster the immunities of infants to known diseases, but researchers at the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) recently set out to determine whether that benefit exists for the novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19 as well, as well as whether there is any risk of transmitting the infection through breast milk.

Breastmilk carries antibodies, proteins, fats, sugars and white blood cells in addition to other nutritional elements, according to a UTMB press release. All of this boosts the capacity of a newborn to fight off infections.

In addition, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicate that some of the diseases that have reduced risk associated with breastfeeding include asthma, type 1 diabetes, severe lower respiratory disease, gastrointestinal infections and many others, according to the press release.

Dr. Roberto Garofalo, John Sealy Distinguished Chair in Pediatrics and vice chair for Research in the Department of Pediatrics at UTMB, said that the benefits of breastfeeding are well-known, according to the release. Yet, the unknown aspects of the coronavirus requires that medicine take another look at breastfeeding.

“The potential infection of pregnant women and transmission to the nursing infant, particularly in the perinatal period, pose significant risks to the important early mother-infant bonding,” he said in the release. “With this study we want to investigate how COVID-19 and breast milk interact.”

For the study, UTMB has been taking donations of breastmilk from new mothers, which will be examined by researchers, according to the release. The samples include both mothers who have tested negative for SARS-CoV-2 and mothers who have tested positive for the virus.

Tests will include determining whether antibodies or antiviral factors are present in the milk of both infected and uninfected mothers, according to the release. They will also test to determine whether the virus is passed on through breastmilk.